Top Five Quotes From Sunday’s Talk Shows

1) “What Putin has promised to his people, which is growth and prosperity, cannot be delivered because of the sanctions.” —Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken, on CNN’s “State of the Union”

2) “President Abbas has to decide whether he wants a pact with Hamas or peace with Israel. He cannot speak out of both sides of his mouth. He cannot embrace Hamas and say that he wants peace with Israel.” —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on CBS’s “Face the Nation”

3) “Despite the fact that some in Washington, D.C., for decades, have thought of state governments as territorial outposts to the national government, what we’ve seen in recent years is a rise of leaders at state level …. The cure for what ails this country is going to come more from our nation’s state capitals than it ever will from our nation’s capital.” —Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence on “Fox News Sunday”

4) “Syria has become a matter of homeland security. And we’re very concerned about Syria foreign fighters, people who are going into Syria, being recruited by extremists there.” —Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, on ABC’s “This Week”

5) “In our country we have a First Amendment which allows ignorant racists to say whatever they want to say. However, I hope the N.B.A. takes swift action against this man. I can’t imagine how it must feel to be one of the African Americans playing on his team, how they must feel today…” —Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.), on CBS, referring to racially charged comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling questioning his girlfriend’s association with minorities.

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Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.